Side-stripping cartridge belt link



P 11, 1956 R. FAGERBERG EI'AL 2,762,264

SIDE-STRIPPING CARTRIDGE BELT LINK Filed March 11, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

Russ-E11 Fugarbarg' KEI'HI M illav fl TTOIENEYS CARTRIDGE BELT LINK Russell Fa'gerberg ,and Keith Miller, Rockford, 111., as-

' signors to the United States of America as represented bythe Secretary of the Army I ap lication March 11, 1955, serial No. 493,841 2 Claims." on. 89-35) 4 The inventionrelates to disintegrating ammunition belts for .firearmsand-,rnore particularly to belts adapted for use intfeeding mechanisms of the type which extract each cartridge from thetlink associated therewith in a direction substantiallyatright angles to the longitudinal axis .of the link.

-"-As a result ofthe tortuous paths imposed on ammunitionfbelts by theshortage of space frequently encountered between the ,source ofgthe ammunition 'and the feeding mechanism of the-firearm in many of the mounting arrangements in aircraft or tanks, it is essential that each linkQinsthe-belt provide an extremely close grip on the cartridge associated therewith in order to prevent premature disengagement. However, present day cartridges are ordinarily formed with any appreciable forwardly convergingfta'per on the case portion thereof, especially in the larger calibers. Qonsequently, the desired; gripping relationshipv between each link and cartridge necessitates a smaller loop at thefront end of the link than at the rear end thereofgf Such design obviously does not lend itself to .the. push-through method of extracting a cartridge from theflinkassociatecl therewith, commonly referred to as stripping? and, therefore, has been eliminated in many instances in favorHo f-a link from which the cartridge is laterallystripped by suitable wedging fingers included in the feed mechanism of the firearm.

.While the useiof thelatter type of link has successfully eliminated .thestripping problem created by appreciable taperin the cartridge case, the fact thatthe cartridge is forced out from between, the open end portions of each cartridge-grippingloop necessarily limits the circumferential extentthereof The resulting increased space between the terminal ends of the loops introduces the possibility ofi relativev longitudinal movement between the cartridge and "its link in response to the repeated flexure and twisting forces imparted to the ammunition belt during the feeding travel thereof. Attempts to prevent such link 'movement, commonly called walk-out, have invariably I resulted in an appreciable increase in both the length and weight of the link.

Accordingly, it is an'object of this invention to provide a compact side-stripping type of cartridge belt link having improved cartridge-gripping characteristics which do not depend on any increase in the size and weight of the link itself.

formed between the various guides and rollers included in conventional ammunition boxes and chutes, excessive helical twist permits such change in direction of the exposed portion of the ammunition belt between the firestrained after a predetermined amount of free movement- 2,762,264 Patented Sept. 11,1956

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firearm. Prior art attempts to limit excessive helical flexibility of the belt were invariably accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the flexibility of each link which consequently reduced the cartridge-gripping ability thereof.

Another object of thisv invention, therefore, resides in the provision of an improved connection between adjacent cartridge belt links wherein the h'elicalflexibility of the ammunition belt formed therebyis positively rewithout the necessity link.

Still another object of this inventionis to provide an improved means for connecting adjacent cartridge belt links so that a limited amount of free helical flexibility therebetween will not be continued as strained helical flexibility despite the increase in the twistingforces being applied thereto. i

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a side stripping cartridge belt link havinga structure of superior flexibility which nevertheless is compact, sturdy and light in weight.

The specific natureof the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a left-side view of the link with a cartridge engaged thereby; a

Figure 2 is an enlarged bottom view of the cartridge belt link of the present invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged end view looking at the front end of the link;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the link connector; and 1 Figure 5 is an enlarged side view showing the manner in which the connector prevents restrained flexibility between adjacent links.

As shown in the drawings, each link is formed as a unitary member which comprises open front and rear arcuately formed cartridge-gripping loops 1 2 and 13, respectively, which are joined by a bridge portion 14 having centrally-disposed, oppositely-projecting arms 15. The contour of arms 15 is such as to form a substantially elliptical loop 16 which projects beyond the peripheries of loops 12 and 13 and serves as part of the means through which each link is articulately connected to theme adjacent thereto. The exterior periphery of loop 16 is .depressed to form a substantially rectangular rib 17 which blends into the interior peripheries of arms 15 for increasing the stiffness thereof. Loop 12 is provided with oppositely disposed detents 18 adjacent the terminal ends thereof which are arranged to grip a cartridge 19 at the crimping groove 20 employed to hold projectile 21 in the case 22. Loop 13 is slightly larger than loop 12 in view of the-increased diameter of case 22 at the area at which such loop is intended to engage. The resiliency of loops 12 and 13 is increased by the removal of substantial portions of metal therefrom at the junction with both arms 15 as best shown at 23.

The exterior arcuate edges of loops 12 and 13 are cut away, to form oppositely converging parallelogram sections 24 on either side of bridge portion 14. The angular sides of the tongues 25 left between sections 24 serve to receive the camming thrust of suitable stripping mechanism (not shown) by means of which cartridge 19 is forced downwardly out between the open ends of loops 12 and 13. In order to facilitate the entry of the stripping members (not shown) into the parallelogram-shaped cut out sections 24, the outer corners 26 thereof are bent inwardly toward one another as best shown in Figure 3.

for increasing the rigidity of each Accordingly,. tongues 25 need not, extendbeyond the" con-- figuration of the link itself and consequently such configuration aids considerably in efiecting the desired compactness of structure,

Adjacent links are joined to one another: by means of a substantially-rectangular connector 27 havingarectangular'opening 28 arranged to-loosely"receive one arm 15. on each link. However, after: oneofi arms-- I5 is in- I sorted, through connector opening 28 the cornersofthe terminal end of such arm are flattened as shown at so as to extendtoutwardly andpermanently retain connector 27 thereon. The terminal endof arm on the second linkis,.of course, left untouched to permit the necessary disintegration between 1 adj acentlinks-during their passage 7 out of th'e: firearm. The oppositeends of connector 27 arerben't downwardly andinwardly toward'one-another as shown at 30 in Figure 4 whereby the oppositely-facing terminal edges are in substantialvertical alignment with the respective ends' of opening23." Since the'length of opening: 28' is slightly larger than thewidth of'arrns 15-,

, thetwisting of one link relative toztheone adjacent thereto is freely permitted until positively-limited by-the con tact between the edges of the curved ends 300i? connector 27* and the peripheral edges on the sides of arms 15 as best, shownin Figure 5. Due to the inherent strength; in the designof ends 34}, the foregoing structure prevents the strained helical flexibility ordinarily encountered between adjacent links with prior art typesof independent connectors.

Since loop. 12. engages the conventional crimpinggroove 20 incartridge case 22, the link is positioned substantiallyat-the'center of gravity of cartridge 19 and, therefore, is notsubjected to the excessive twisting forces normally encountered in those designs where the link grips the cartridge at the extractor groove'in the rear end thereof.

Consequently, the link of the present invention minimizes the tendency for the cartridge to move longitudinally relative thereto as aresult of the flexing to which the ammunition belt is subjected during its feedin-g'travel. 'Furthermore, this reduced tendency of the cartridge to walk.

4 been described in detailherein, it isevidentthat many variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

Weclaim:

l. A cartridge belt link of the type from which the, cartridge is laterally stripped comprising a longitudinal bridge portion, a pair'of open arcuate cartridge-grippingloops depending. from. the front and rear ends of said bridgeportion, said tront loop beingof slightlysmaller diameter than said rear loop and having opposeddetents adjacent the terminal ends thereof and adapted to engagerat the front end of, the cartridge case, a substantially rectangular ar'm curving outwardly-from-either. side of said bridge portion centrally of said loops to form an open elliptical section, said bridge having spaced apart cutaway portions defining tongue-like projections at either end thereof, the outer corners-left by'said cutaway portions on said loops being bent, inwardly toward one another andaway from saidtonguelike projections: to=define alarger opening for effecting easier stripping of the cartridge, and a substantially rectangular connector having a substantially rectangular opening for loosely receiving the terminal ends of said rectangular arms on adjacent" links, one of said terminal'ends having outwardly flaring corners for per manentlybut loosely retaining said connector thereto.

2. A cartridgebelt link'of the type from which the cartridge'is laterally stripped; comprising a longitudinal bridge portion, a pair of open arcuate cartridge-gripping loopsdependingfrom the front vand rear ends of said bridge portion, said front loop being of slightly smaller diameter thansaid rear loop and'arranged to grip a cartridge case at the front end thereof, a substantially rectangular arm curving outwardly from either side of said bridge portion centrally 'of'said loops to form an open elliptical section projecting outwardly beyond the periph cry of said cartridge-gripping loops, and a substantially rectangular connectorhaving a substantially rectangular opening therein for loosely receiving the terminal ends of said rectangular arms on each of two adjacent links, one'of said'adjacent terminal ends having outwardly flaring corners for permanently but loosely retaining'said connector thereon, said connector having opposite inwardly curled ends adapted to contact thesides ofsaid rectangular arms extending therethrough for positively limiting anyaddit'ional helical twisting between adjacent links.

GreatBritain 1915 Great Britain Dec. 5, 1945 

